A GOVERNMENT inspector has rejected a bid by a Midland brewery to breathe new life into a derelict farm on green belt land.

Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries wanted to bulldoze a three-storey farmhouse at Sandyway Farm in Walsall Road, Lichfield, to make way for a pub and restaurant.

But Lichfield District Council refused to grant planning permission on the grounds the green belt d evelopment would be "inappropriate".

The brewery appealed against the decision, but following a public inquiry and a site visit, a Government inspector has backed the council and dismissed the appeal.

Inspector Ian Jenkins said: "Although the appeal site contains a number of derelict buildings, which would be removed as a result of the proposal, the proposed development, overall, would not enhance the landscape.

"There are no pubs within Darwin Park, or close to the appeal site, and the appellant has indicated that the proposed development would meet local needs."

But he added: "The proposal would conflict with the green belt purpose of assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.

"It is insufficient to clearly out-weigh the harm that inappropriate development would cause together with the harm to the openness of the green belt and character and appearance of the surroundings."

Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries said the development would have created more than 20 jobs and provided the area with its first family pub.

It is unclear whether the firm now plans to submit a fresh application in its bid to transform the site at a later date.